Boron nitride
Properties
Chemical formula: BN
Name: Boron nitride
CAS No.: 10043-11-5
Molar mass: 24.82 g/mol
Density: approx. 2.25 g/cm³ for the hexagonal modification
Sublimation point: approx. 3000 °C under nitrogen pressure
Color: bright white
Form: fine powder or dense sintered solid
Main modifications: hexagonal h-BN and cubic c-BN
Boron nitride (BN) is a covalent chemical compound of boron and nitrogen. It is commercially available as a fine, bright-white powder or as a dense sintered solid. With a sublimation point of approximately 3000 °C under nitrogen pressure, boron nitride offers exceptionally high thermal stability.
BN is isoelectronic with carbon and occurs in several crystalline modifications. The most important commercial form is hexagonal boron nitride, h-BN, which has a layered structure and excellent lubricating properties. For this reason, it is often referred to as "white graphite".
Unlike graphite, hexagonal boron nitride is an excellent electrical insulator while simultaneously providing high thermal conductivity. This combination makes the material particularly useful in electronics, thermal management and high-temperature engineering.
Cubic boron nitride, c-BN, has a diamond-like crystal structure and belongs to the hardest known engineering materials. It is particularly important as a cutting material for machining hard ferrous materials.
Boron nitride also exhibits very low wettability by molten metals, slags and glass. In air, it offers good oxidation resistance up to approximately 900 °C. Production is typically carried out by reacting boron trioxide or boric acid with ammonia or urea at temperatures above 1000 °C.
Boron and its compounds are used in numerous advanced technologies, while boron nitride is particularly important for high-temperature lubricants, electronics, thermal management, technical ceramics, foundry applications and cutting tools. Would you like to buy boron nitride? Auremo can provide information about available forms and delivery conditions. The boron nitride price depends on the modification, product form, order quantity and supply conditions.
Advantages
• High thermal conductivity combined with excellent electrical insulation
• Low coefficient of friction of hexagonal h-BN
• Excellent lubricating properties at elevated temperatures
• High chemical inertness
• Very low wettability by molten metals, slags and glass
• Good oxidation resistance in air up to approximately 900 °C
• Exceptionally high thermal stability
• Extremely high hardness of cubic c-BN
Applications
• High-temperature solid lubricants
• Additive in oils, greases and release agents
• Foundry applications
• Electronics and thermal management
• Thermal pastes
• Electronic substrates and circuit boards
• High-performance technical ceramics
• Crucibles, nozzles, protective tubes and seals
• Vacuum and semiconductor technology
• Cubic boron nitride c-BN cutting materials
• Indexable cutting inserts
• Machining of hard ferrous materials
Auremo offers boron nitride and other specialty materials for industrial applications. If you have any questions about BN, available modifications, product forms or delivery conditions, please contact us directly.
